Sant Sri Asaramji Bapu

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Param Pujya Sant Sri Asaramji Bapu (Hindi: संत श्री आसारामजी बापू), is a Self-Realised saint from India. Endearingly called 'Bapuji' was born in Berani village of Nawab district in Sindh (Un-Partitioned India) on Sixth Day of Chaitra month in Vikram Samvat 1998 (17th April 1941, English Calendar) as Aasumal. His father was wealthy businessman Thaumal Sirumalani and his mother was god-fearing lady, Mehngeeba.

Today, there are 130 ashrams and 1100 Sri Yog Vedanta Seva Samiti (SYVSS) all over the world working under the guidance of Bapuji. The main ashram is in Ahmedabad (Gujrat, India). SYVSS is involved in many social, religious and spiritual activities in India and abroad. A magazine in many different languages is also printed by the ashram called "Rishi Prasad" and a monthly newspaper called "Lok Kalyan Setu". Yog Vedanta Seva Samiti's website is available at http://www.ashram.org.

[edit] Biography

At the time of Aasumal's birth, a merchant stopped at his Shri Thaumal's house and told him that he got a divine feeling of a saintly child being born in his family. For that special child he brought this swing. Aasumal was the fourth child in the family and a myth in the society was that a boy after three girls is a curse on the family and brings poverty to the family. But, contrary was observed, the business grew more than as it was earlier. Family was blessed with more fortune and respect in society. Everyone was amazed on this.

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When Aasumal was three years of age, kulguru (guru of family) Shri Parsuramji came to Shri Thaumalji's home. As he saw child Aasumal he said that the child is not a normal kid. He said that the child Aasumal will be a great saint and will show the path of spiritualism to the people living in ignorance.

Since his childhood, Aasumal was very much inclined towards religious epics. Manhgeeba maa used to tell stories from Ramayana, Bhagawad Gita and other scriptures to Aasumal. That was his first introduction to the world of spirituality.

He was the most favourite students in his school. Lovingly, the students and teachers used to call him "Hansmukh bhai". He always had a very sharp memory from his childhood.

Due to unfortunate division of India, his family moved from Sindh to Maninagar near Ahmedabad in Gujarat. Aasumal started his studies again in Maninagar. During recess time, when other children used to play, Aasumal would sit under a tree for meditation. Maa Mehgiba would put makkhan-mishree (sweetened butter) in front of Aasumal when he would be sitting for meditation with his eyes closed. She would tell Aasumal to open his eyes and see what god has sent for him. This built up his interest in Dhyaan (Meditation) & Bhajan (Prayers) and he started enjoying it.

When Aasumal saw that school education is only useful for earning bread and it only fulfills the worldly enjoyment, he lost the facination of school education. Whenever there was any time spare, he would go and meditate.

At a very young age Aasumal lost his father and he had to discontinue his education and take care of the family business along with his elder brother. But Aasumal was always yearning for spiritual knowledge. His meditation grew longer and longer and provided him with many siddhis (spiritual powers) in a small age of 10 years. He went to Sidhpur for a job and came back to Maninagar after 3 years. His mother wanted to get him married now, but Aasumal was never into marriages and social life. But his family got him engaged.

Aasumal kept postponing marriage for two and half years. Eventually, his family fixed a date of his marriage but he ran away from his home eight days before the day of marriage. His family started searching for him and found him in Ashok Ashram in Bharuch and took him back to home. Aasumal was married to Lakshmi Devi.

He told his wife that his ultimate goal is to self realise, hence not to obstruct his way. He joined a Sanskrit school. Four days before the final exam he was influenced by a shloka which meant "The one who has disowned expectations & materialistic desires & has adopted the desireless state, the penances & worship of such a person has reached completion." His desire to attain God got intensified. He made up his mind to break from family so as to realize God.

After leaving his dominions, Asumal went from place to place and at nights slept on the grass, homeless and alone. He did intense spiritual practices in deep forests, on hills, in deep caves, in various great temples. At Kedarnath, the Pujari blessed Asumal to become a millionaire, but Asumal did not appreciate this. He worshipped again & made a pledge to attain God.

Asumal then went to Vrindavan, the land of Lord Krishna. Here he was inspired to goto the ashram of the Great Guru, Swami Shri Lilashahaji Maharaj. He had to wait for 40 days in the Ashram to get the glimpse of Gurudev. There he stayed and served his SadGuru with true devotion. He waged war with so many troubles. He used to take just Moong Dal as food, sleep in a small 4.5 feet room. SadGurudev made Asumal go through several hardships for another 30 days & then finally Asumal was blessed. Swami Shri Lilashahaji Maharaj asked him to go back to home & continue his spiritual practices at home.

While coming back to his home, he left the train and went to Moti Koral (A place in Gujarat. His mind was attuned to only self-realization. No one can stop a man who is on his way to Paramapada (Ultimate Realization). He started doing dyaan at the bank or river Narmada. A local saint Shri Lalji Maharaj got impressed by Asumal's intense spiritual practices. Lalji Maharaj made arrangements for Asumal to stay in Datt Kutir of Ram Niwas (Lalji Maharaj's Ashram). Asumal started the 40 day Anushthan here.

One day while Asumal was meditating in the bank of river Narmada, heavy rain poured. Asumal did not want to stop his meditation. He went to a nearby fisherman's hut, and there he sat in meditation, soon he merged himself in deep meditation. Sometime later, the owner of the house came outside to attend his natural call & he saw our Asumal. He suspected Asumal to be a thief and collected all the fishermen in the neighbourhood. Everybody in the near vicinity came with their weapons, sticks and swords etc. But Asumal was deeply merged in meditation. After some time he slowly opened his eyes and saw many people around him with all kinds of weapons, making noise. But who can do anything to a person who has conquered all sensory tendencies, like evil, animosity.

All people that came there gazed at him in wonder and beheld him with respect. They realized that he is a great saint doing meditation. Asumal immediately left that place with heavenly dignity. All these people asked for forgiveness & looked upon him with great reverence and esteem.

When Asumal's wife and mother came to know that he was staying at Moti Koral they visited him. They requested him to come back. But Asumal told them without completing the Anushthan he cannot come. He successfully completed the Anushthan. The whole village & Shri Lalji Maharaj himself came to the railway station to see them off to Ahmedabad. As soon as the train started moving from Miyagaun junction, Asumal jumped out and boarded a train towards Bombay to meet Gurudev Lila Shahji Maharaj.

Asumal reached Bombay (Mumbai) and met Gurudev Lila ShahJi Maharaj. Lila ShahJi Maharaj were very happy to see his disciple's keen interest to attain the truth. Hence, on 2nd Day of Ashwin month in Samvat 2021 at 2.30pm in the afternoon Asumal was transformed into Sant Sri AsaramJi Bapu by the blessings of Sadgurudev Shri Lila ShahJi Maharaj. Asumal went into samadhi for next two and a half days.

Asumal started seeing the one supreme being in all. With SadGuru's grace Asaramji discovered the absolute truth. Affinity for the world disappeared. Each moment of life was overflowing with the divine realization of existence of One in All. The stage beyond pride & material attractions was reached. The final destination where the Jiva becomes one with Parmatman was reached. The blissful state where nothing can separate one from God was finally attained.

Gurudev Lila Shahji Maharaj instructed Asaramji to serve the humanity by staying as a householder. After Self-Realization Sant Shri Asaramji Bapu stayed in solitude for seven years. Pujya Shri used to stay fully immersed in the bliss of the Atman (Brahmanand Masti) & give religious discourse to all those who came for darshana (meet & see Bapuji). Pujya Shri spent His solitude in various places like Disa, Naareshwar Dhaam, the Himalayas, Mt. Abu & so on...

BapuJi met Swami Lilashahji in Haridwar in Vikram Samvat 2028, & by the commands of SadGuru, inorder to provide a good example to common householders, Swamiji entered the life of a householder. It was the day of Guru Punam in Vikram Samvat 2028 when Pujya Shri reached Ahmedabad after staying in solitude for seven years.

BapuJi chose a peaceful place in the Motera village on the banks of Sabarmati river. Later on some of the devotees constructed a small room for Swamiji which is very well known as "Moksha Kutir". Though this place in Motera village was very inhabitual and a place of thieves and boot-leggers, BapuJi lived there submerged in the joy of communion with Atman. Slowly, the number of devotees coming to Motera kept on increasing and in a very short time the place became a great spiritual centre.